Director: Obi Emelonye
Genre: Thriller, Drama
Runtime: 1h 47m
TMDB Rating: 5.3/10
Plot: Turbulence in the Skies and Souls
Inspired by true Nigerian aviation disasters, Last Flight to Abuja follows passengers and crew aboard a domestic flight from Lagos to Abuja as mechanical failures and human errors push the plane toward catastrophe. Intertwined with personal backstories—a couple reconciling, a businessman chasing a deal, a pilot battling guilt—the film builds tension as the aircraft’s fate hangs in the balance. The narrative blends disaster-movie tropes with cultural specificity, though pacing issues and melodrama undercut its urgency.
Visual Style: Claustrophobia Over Craft
Emelonye relies on tight close-ups and shaky camerawork to amplify the claustrophobic terror inside the cabin. While the low-budget constraints show (e.g., repetitive cockpit shots, limited CGI), the grounded approach lends authenticity to the panic. Flashbacks to passengers’ lives, however, disrupt momentum, and the film’s abrupt transitions between drama and disaster tropes muddy its tone. The final crash sequence, though harrowing, suffers from technical limitations.
Cast: Strong Performances Ground the Chaos
Hakeem Kae-Kazim (Captain Ranti): Kae-Kazim anchors the film with a stoic, weary portrayal of a pilot haunted by past mistakes.
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde (Suzie): Ekeinde shines as a passenger grappling with relationship woes, though her subplot feels underexplored.
Jim Iyke (David): Iyke’s charismatic businessman adds levity, but his arc leans into clichéd redemption beats.
Themes: Survival and Systemic Failure
Aviation Accountability: The film critiques Nigeria’s aviation safety lapses, framing the disaster as a symptom of systemic neglect.
Human Resilience: Passengers’ raw fear and camaraderie highlight shared humanity under duress.
Fate vs. Control: The pilot’s struggle mirrors broader themes of helplessness against bureaucratic and mechanical failures.
Reception: Mixed Altitude
Critics praised its ambition to tackle real-world issues and the cast’s commitment but criticized its uneven pacing and technical flaws. Nigerian audiences lauded its local relevance, while international viewers found it “a noble effort hamstrung by budget” (TMDB: 5.3). The film’s festival run, including screenings at the Africa International Film Festival, highlighted its cultural significance over cinematic polish.
Critic’s Verdict
Last Flight to Abuja is a commendable but flawed thriller that soars on its real-life stakes and strong performances, yet nosedives due to pacing and production limitations. While it sheds light on critical issues in Nigerian aviation, its execution struggles to balance drama and disaster.
Strengths
Hakeem Kae-Kazim’s compelling lead performance.
Authentic tension in the cabin sequences.
Cultural relevance and awareness-raising narrative.
Weaknesses
Uneven pacing and disjointed subplots.
Low-budget technical execution.
Underdeveloped character backstories.
Rating: 5.5/10
A vital story for Nigerian cinema, but unevenly told.
Pair With
Flight (2012) for a Hollywood counterpart, or 93 Days (2016) for another Nigerian true-story thriller.
Cultural Footprint
By addressing themes of personal accountability and survival within a distinctly Nigerian context, Last Flight to Abuja enriches the tapestry of African storytelling, reflecting both the aspirations and challenges of its film industry.